Rotary pressure cooker

ABSTRACT

A high capacity, low speed rotary cooking and cooling apparatus for handling cooker length rows of containers within a series of annular processing housings interconnected by star wheel transfer turrets. A reel in each housing arranged to move each container around an arcuate path, and at least one of said annular housings being of sufficient size to encompass another housing. The apparatus may include pressure feed and discharge valves capable of handling an entire row of containers at one time; or may include shorter pressure feed and discharge valves which handles shorter rows that are less than an entire cooker length row at one time and which are associated with an intermittently driven conveyor that accumulates the short rows and forms them into cooker length rows which are then deflected between the transfer conveyor and the adjacent housing. A modified apparatus includes one or more cylindrical housings with an inner drum that may be driven at a speed different from that of the reel so as to agitate the cooker length rows of containers.

United States Patent [72] Inventor Samuel A. Mencacci Wilrijk, Belgium [21] Appl.No. 823,212 [22] Filed Feb.3,1969 Division of Ser. No. 658,105, Aug. 3, 1967,

.1829 3 9 3525523. [45] Patented Feb. 16,1971 [73] Assignee International Machinery Corporation S.A. JL'2es-.Wessdhlm [54] ROTARY PRESSURE COOKER 10 Claims, 26 Drawing Figs. [52] U.S.Cl 99/366, 99/214, 99/368, 99/370, 99/371 [51] lnt.Cl. A23l3/02 [50] Field ol'Search 99/214, 360-371 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 865,645 9/1907 Jennings 99/364 1,154,611 9/1915 Burpee 99/365X 1,301,428 4/1919 Gitterman... 99/361X 1,437,882 12/1922 Barrows 99/364X 1,445,196 2/1923 Berry 99/363 1,457,852 6/1923 Northrupetal.... 99/363 1,484,259 2/1924 Fowleetal. 99/360X 1,485,851 3/1924 Hopper 99/360 1,826,036 10/1931 Yarrow 99/366 1,836,801 12/1931 Johnson 99/363X 1,836,802 12/1931 Johnson 99/363X STERILIZE 1,836,803 12/1931 Johnson 99/361 1,859,389 5/1932 Graham 99/361 1,883,606 10/1932 Deback et al... 99/361 2,262,921 11/1941 Carvallo 99/361 2,349,566 5/1944 Thompson... 99/367 2,585,213 2/1952 Baker 99/364 2,695,556 1 H1954 Novotny 99/365 2,782,708 2/1957 Novotny... 99/365 2,817,593 12/1957 Peebles 99/371X 2,833,202 5/1958 Wilbur 99/367 Primary Examiner Billy J. Wilhite AIIome-ys- F. W. Anderson and C. E. Tripp ABSTRACT: A high capacity, low speed rotary cooking and cooling apparatus for handling cooker length rows of containers within a series of annular processing housings interconnected by star wheel transfer turrets. A reel in each housing arranged to move each container around an arcuate path, and at least one of said annular housings being of sufficient size to encompass another housing. The apparatus may include pressure feed and discharge valves capable of handling an entire row of containers at one time; or may include shorter pressure feed and discharge valves which handles: shorter rows that are less than an entire cooker length row at one time and which are associated with an intermittently driven conveyor that accumulates the short rows and forms them into cooker length rows which are then deflected between the transfer conveyor and the adjacent housing. A modified apparatus includes one or more cylindrical housings with an inner drum that may be driven at a speed different from that of the reel so as to agitate the cooker length rows of containers.

PATENTEUFEBISIH?! 3.563.161

' sum UZDF 14 INVENTOR.

SAMUEL A. MENGAGOI BY 54mm FIE-5E. 06%;,

AT TORNE Y3 QPATENTEDFEBIEIBYI 3.563161 SHEET 03 0F 14 INVENTOR SAMUEL A. MENOAOOI fMW-u AT TORNEYS PATENTED FEB 1 6 I97! saw on HF INVENTOR. Samuel. A. MENOAGOI BY j M M 7? A TORNEYS PATENTEUFEmmn 3,5 3,161

sum 050; 14

STERILIZE IN VEN TOR.

' SAMUEL A. MENGAOGI d Q). cw. v2.7

ATTORNEYS PATENTEDFEBIBIBYI 7 35533 1 sum USUF 14 INVENTOR. SAMUEL A. MENOAGOI JW a 63 727 ATTORNEYS PATENTEU FEB 16 1971 sum as 0F ATTORNEYS PATENTEUFEBIBM 3j563l6l sum user 14 ROW FORMING CONVEYOR D!SCHARGE VALVE I INVENTOR. SAMUEL A. MENGACCI Ja/W 06 COOKER PATENTEUFEBISISYI 3,563,161 sum 12 0F 14 20 TII3 1'7- 56 ,ene 654 a INVENTOR.

SAMUEL A. MENOACOI ATTORNEYS PATENTEDFEBIBIQ?! 3.563.161

,sum 1a or 14 INVENTOR. SAMUEL A. MENCAOCI jm W AT TORNE YS ROTARY PRESSURE COOKER CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION This application is a division of the pending United States application of Samuel A Mencacci, Ser. No. 658,105, which was filed on Aug. 3, 1967 and which issued as Pat. No. 3,495,523 on Feb. 17,1970.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention pertains to improved rotary cooking and cooling apparatus and more particularly relates to a cooking and cooling apparatus having annular processing chambers interconnected by transfer valves and having driven reels in each chamber adapted to advance rows of containers through the apparatus. I

The pressure feed and discharge valves may be of the type disclosed in the pending applicationof Menacci et all Ser. No. 530,191 which was filed on Feb. 25, 1966 now Pat. No. 3,340,79l which issued on Sept. 12, 1967.

The cooking and cooling apparatus of the present invention is especially suitable for handling cylindrical glass jars, such as the well known wide mouth baby food jars, although it is to be understood that cans, plastic containers or other types of jars may also be handled in the apparatus, and that the containers may be irregular in shape, for example, square.

I In recent years glass jar manufacturers have provided jars which can withstand considerable temperature changes, and accordingly, can be processed without excessive glass breakage in cookers which gradually raise the temperature from normal room temperature to about 245 F. and then cool the containers back to approximately room temperature.

One known system for processing glass jars is to individually encapsulate each jar and to pass the same through a series of well known reel and spiral heat treatment apparatus. When handling encapsulated glass jars with this type of reel and spiral apparatus, five of the reel and spiral units are interconnected and usually include a rotary preheater, a rotary pressure preheater, a rotary sterilizer, a rotary cooler, and a rotary atmospheric cooler. These five processing units are not only expensive but they also require considerable floor space.

A much more difficult problem with the type system mentioned above is that each container is handled independently and is moved around a spiral path within each of the processing units from one end thereof to the-other by a stationary spiral track which cooperates with a continuously rotating reel. Accordingly each container, or capsule, is subjected to considerable wear as it is spirally advanced through the several processing units. Also, since each container is handled independently in the system, it will be appreciated that if a processing speed of 400 containers per minute is desired, the individual containers must be moved at a very high rate of speed into, through, and out of the several reel and spiral heat treatment units. This high speed not only increases the glass breakage rate but also causes excessive wear to the machine and to the capsules within which the containers are confined. It will also be understood, if the containers were not encapsulated, the external surfaces of the glass jars would be scratched, and also, the jar caps would be damaged or dislodged from the jars clue to their-high speed sliding engagement with the spiral tracks within the several processing units.

When heating containers to a temperature substantially above the boiling point of water, itis necessary to subject the containers to a superatmospheric pressure. This is especially true when handling wide mouth glass jars since the caps tend to burst from the jars if the pressure within the jars exceeds the pressure acting on the external surfaces thereof.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The preferred embodiment of the rotary cooking and cooling apparatus of the present invention is designed to sterilize cooker length rows of glass containers having about 100 containers in each row without requiring that the containers be encapsulated. The apparatus continuously advances the rows of containers at the very slow speed of about four rows per minute through a plurality of annular heat treatment housings with each row of containers moving as a unit around an arcuate, rather than a helical path while in each housing. Because the housings are annular, rather than cylindrical, large diameter housings are used since only the relatively small annular end faces need be sealed, there being no need to seal the entire end area as would be required if a cylindrical housing of the same diameter were to be used. One or more small diameter processing housings are disposed within the large diameter annular housing.

The several housings are interconnected by transfer turrets which transfer the rows of containers between the several annular housings. At least the inlet transfer turret and the discharge transfer turret are formed as rotary pressure valves thus permitting the pressure within the housings to be above atmospheric pressure. Water maintained at the desired temperature and subjected to an overriding air pressure is the preferred heat treatment medium when handling jars. However, it will be understood that steam or a steam-air mixture may be used as the heating medium if desired.

Since the containers are handled as long rows rather than as individual containers, an apparatus which advances rows of I00 containers each at the very slow speed of four rows per minute is capable of sterilizing containers at the rate of 400 containers per minute when the largest annular processing chamber is about 12 feet in diameter and about 40 feet long. An apparatus of this size would have a holding capacity of about 16,000 containers.

It is, therefore, one object of the present invention to provide a rotary pressure cooking and cooling apparatus adapted to handle long cooker length rows of containers and to pass the rows of containers through annular processing housings at very slow speeds.

Another object is to provide a rotary cooking and cooling apparatus capable of handling glass jars without encapsulation.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a side elevation of the preferred embodiment of the cooking and cooling apparatus of the present invention, certain parts being cut away and other parts being shown in section.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged diagrammatic'end elevation of the upparatus of FIG. 1 with certain parts cut away and other parts shown in section or in phantom.

FIG. 2A is an enlarged vertical section illustrating a fragment of one of the annular housings with a portion of the reel therein.

FIG. 2B is an enlarged section taken along lines 28-28 of FIG. 2 illustrating one sealed end portion of an annular housing with the reel therein.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged perspective of a fragment of the preheater illustrated in FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged section taken along lines 4-4 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged perspective of a fragment of the precooler illustrated in FIG. 2 showing a transfer device and a let-down device which cooperate to transfer the rows of containers from the precooler to the final cooler.

FIG. 6 is a perspective illustrating the drive parts at one end of the cooking and cooling apparatus.

FIG. 6A is a perspective of one end of one of the reels showing several rows of containers positioned therein.

FIG. 7 is a diagrammatic end elevation of a second embodiment of the cooking and cooling apparatus of the present invention, certain parts being cut away and other parts being shown in section and in phantom.

FIG. 8 is a perspective of one end of the apparatus of FIG. 7 illustrating the drive parts at that end, certain annular housings of the apparatus being illustrated in phantom.

FIG. 9 is a diagrammatic end elevation of a third embodi ment of the cooking and cooling apparatus illustrating structure for agitating the containers while in the preheater and final cooler, certain parts being cutaway and other parts being shown in section and in phantom.

FIG. 9A is an enlarged vertical section of a fragment of the apparatus of FIG. 9.

FIG. 10 is a diagrammatic end elevation of a forth embodiment of the cooking and cooling apparatus illustrating in phantom, feed and discharge valves which handle groups of containers which are shorter than cooker length rows, and illustrates in section conveyors for forming the groups into cooker length rows and for reforming the cooker length rows into groups after processing.

FIG. 11 is a diagrammatic perspective of the feed and discharge end of the apparatus of FIG. 10, certain parts being cut away.

FIG. 12 is a plan of the apparatus of FIG. 10 illustrating the location of the feed and discharge valves and having the longitudinal central portion of the processing housings cut away.

FIG. 13 is an enlarged vertical section taken along lines 13-13 of FIG. 10 illustrating the row forming and group reforming conveyors.

FIG. 14 is an enlarged horizontal section taken along the line 14-14 of FIG. 10 illustrating a transfer conveyor and a transfer device, the central portion of said conveyor being cut FIG. 15 is an enlarged perspective of a portion of the transfer conveyor.

FIG. 16 is an enlarged vertical section taken along lines 16-16 otFlG. 14.

FIG. 17 is an enlarged vertical section taken along line 17-17 of FIG. 13, certain of the drive parts being shown in phantom.

FIG. 18 is an enlarged vertical section taken along lines 18-18 of FIG. 13 illustrating the drive parts for the row form-' ing and group reforming conveyors, other drive parts being omitted for clarity.

FIG. 19 is a vertical section taken along lines 19-19 of FIG. 18.

FIG. 20 is a fragmentary vertical elevation with parts broken away illustrating the drive for the transfer conveyor.

FIG. 21 is a vertical elevation of a fragment of the apparatus illustrating the drive for the star wheel transfer device.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The rotary pressure cooking and cooling apparatus 20 (FIGS. 1 to 6) of the present invention comprises, in general, a rotary pressure feed valve 22 which advances cooker length rows of about 100 containers C in a counterclockwise direction into a rotary preheater 24 at the rate of about four rows per minute, which preheater raises the temperature of the containers to substantially that of the sterilizing temperature. The preheater 24 advances the rows of containers into a transfer turret 26 which discharges the containers into a rotary sterilizer 28 with the aid of a rotary let-down device 30. The sterilizer 28 (FIG. 2) moves the rows of containers in a counterclockwise direction during which time the contents of the containers are sterilized, and thereafter discharges the rows of sterilized containers into a transfer turret 32. The transfer turret 32, with the aid of a let-down device 34, transfers the rows of containers into a rotary precooler 36 which moves the rows of containers in a clockwise direction and discharges them, with the aid of a transfer device 38 and a let-down device 40 into a final cooler 42. The final cooler 42 advances the containers in a counterclockwise direction and discharges them into a pressure discharge valve 44 which releases the fully processed and cooled rows of containers onto a take-away conveyor 46 for discharge from the apparatus.

Although only the details at one end of the cooking and cooling apparatus 20 are illustrated in FIGS. 2, 3 and 5 of the drawings, it will be understood that the other end of the apparatus is constructed in exactly the same manner. It will further be understood that the above described elements may be constructed as relatively short modules that are bolted together to make a cooking and cooling apparatus of the desired length. For example, four 10-foot modules may be bolted together to provide a cooker having a total length of 40 feet. If a 4-section modular construction is used, it will be understood that both ends of each module will be constructed substantially as illustrated in FIG. 2, and that each row of containers will include four groups of containers which are slightly spaced from each other so as to provide voids in each row opposite the intermediate walls of the modules. However, to simplify the detailed description to follow, the cooking and cooling apparatus 20 will be described as a single long unit rather than as a unit made up of several interconnected modular sections.

More particularly, the preheater 24 (FIGS. 2 and 3) comprises an elongated annular preheater housing 50 defined by an inner cylindrical wall 52, an outer substantially cylindrical wall 54 and two annular end plates 56 (FIG. I) secured in fluidtight engagement to the ends of the walls 52 and 54. The pressure feed valve 22 is secured to the outer wall 54 in communication with an elongated inlet opening 58 therein, and the transfer turret 26 is likewise secured to the outer wall in communication with an elongated outlet opening 60 therein as clearly indicated in FIG. 2.

An annular reel 62 (FIGS.'2, 3 and 6A) is disposed within the preheater housing 50 and is concentric with the walls 52 and 54. The reel 62 includes a pair of identical end rings 64, one ring being disposed adjacent each end of the housing 50, and a plurality of evenly spaced radially extending bars 66 which are welded to the rings 64 and extend longitudinally of the housing 50. Each ring 64 is mounted on trunnions 68 and 70 which are secured on shafts 72 and 74, respectively, journaled in the housing end walls 56. The trunnions 68 and 70 are received in semicylindrical troughs 76 and 78, respectively, that extend the full length of the housing 50. The troughs 76 and 78 are sealed in fluidtight engagement to the lower portion of the cylindrical outer wall 54 and are also secured in fluidtight engagement to the end plates 56 as by bolting. A plurality of equally spaced drive pins 80 are secured to and project outwardly from each ring 64. The pins 80 on each ring 64 mesh with a drive gear 82, and the drive gears 82 are keyed to a preheater drive shaft 84 that preferably extends the full length of the apparatus 20 and is journaled in bearings mounted on the two annular end plates 56. A semicylindrical trough 86 is secured in fluidtight engagement to the outer housing wall 54 and to the end plates 56 and cooperates with the annular housing 50 to provide a fluidtight area within which the drive gears 82 operate.

In order to minimize the presence of scratches and rust marks on the containers which marks mar the appearance of the containers, and in order to improve circulation of the heat treatment medium through the preheater housing 50, a stainless steel inner liner 88 and a stainless steel outer liner 90 are provided. The inner liner 88 (FIG. 3) is a cylindrical tube which has a plurality of spacer rings 94 welded thereto and supported by the inner cylindrical wall 52 of the preheater housing 50. A plurality of openings 96, such as slots, are formed in the liner 88 to permit free flow of heat transfer fluid therethrough. The outer liner 90 comprises a generally cylindrical member having an elongated inlet opening and outlet opening therein which are lined with the inlet opening 58 and outlet openings 60, respectively, of the outer cylindrical wall 54 of the preheater housing 50. A plurality of spaced rings 104 (FIG. 3) are welded to the outer surface of the outer liner 90 and space the liner from the outer housing wall 54 so that fluid can freely circulate between the liner 90 and wall 54 as well as through slots 106 in the liner 90.

The pressure feed valve 22 comprises a substantially cylindrical housing 110 having an elongated inlet opening 112 for receiving rows of containers from a row forming device 114 of any well known design, and an elongated discharge opening communicating with the opening 58 in the preheater housing 50. A reel 116 is mounted on a shaft 117 and has a plurality of equally spaced pockets 118 therein. The reel shaft 117 is journaled in the end plates of the housing 110 and is continuously driven in a clockwise direction (FIG. 2) to receive rows of containers which are deflected off the row forming device 114 by an intermittently operated hydraulic deflector 120. Elongated cam operated paddles 122 may be provided in each pocket 118 for first gently guiding each row of containers into a pocket and for subsequently gently deflecting each row out of a pocket and between adjacent bars 66 of the preheater reel 62. The pockets 118 of the reel 116 are individually sealed to the housing 110 in a wellknown manner thus permitting superatmospheric pressure to be maintained in the preheater housing 50.

The specific details of the pressure feed valve 22 form no part of the present invention, accordingly, these parts will not be described in detail. If a complete description of the pressure valve is desired, reference may be had to the aforementioned Mencacci et al. application.

As mentioned previously, the preferred heat treatment medium used in the several processing chambers of the cooking and cooling apparatus is water which is maintained at the desired temperatures in each chamber by suitable thermostatic controls (not shown) and which is maintained under pressure by an overriding air pressure in the preheater housing 50. The water level in the preheater 24 is maintained at a level slightly below the level of the inlet opening 58.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention rows of containers moving through the preheater 24 will be gradually raised to about the sterilizing temperature, for example 250 F., and will be discharged through the preheater discharge opening into pockets 126 in the reel 128 of the transfer turret 26. The reel 128 is mounted on'a shaft 130 and is continuously driven in a clockwise direction (FIG. 2) within a cylindrical housing 132 having an elongated inlet openingand an elongated discharge opening 136 therein. Since the temperature of the containers is raised while in the preheater 24 to substantially the sterilizing temperature, and since there is no desire to maintain a pressure differential between the preheater 24 and the sterilizer 28, the pockets 126 of the reel 128 need not be sealed to the housing 132.

The sterilizer 28 is constructed in substantially the same manner as the preheater 24 and includes an annular housing 140 defined by cylindrical outer shell 142, a cylindrical inner shell 143 concentric therewith, and a pair of annular end plates 144 (FIG. 1) which are connected together in fluidtight engagement to define an annular sterilizing chamber. An inner liner 148 and an outer liner 150 that are similar to the liners 80 and 90 of the preheater 92 are mounted within the housing 140. The outer shell 142 has semicylindrical troughs 152, 154

and 156 secured in fluidtight relation thereto and to the endplates 144 which accommodate, respectively, a sterilizer drive shaft 158 having drive gears 160 secured near opposite ends thereof, a first trunnion shaft 162 having trunnions 164 keyed thereon near opposite ends thereof, and a second trunnion shaft 166 having trunnions (not shown) keyed thereon near opposite ends thereof. The shafts 158, 162 and 166 are journaled in bearings secured to the end plates 144. A large diameter sterilizer reel 170 is rotatably mounted within the housing andcomprises a pair of rings 172 (only one being shown) having a plurality of evenly spaced container advancing bars 174, that define row accommodating pockets 175, welded thereto and extending therebetween. A plurality of evenly spaced drive pins 176 are secured to each ring 172 and mesh with the associated drive gears which continuously drive the reel in a counterclockwise direction (FIG. 2) at the rate of about four pockets per minute.

The discharge opening 136 of the transfer turret 26 communicates with an elongated inlet opening formed in the outer shell 142 and in the outer liner 150 and permits rows of containers to pass therethrough when entering the rotary sterilizer 28. The rotary let-down device 30 is positioned immediately below the inlet opening in order to prevent injury to the rows of containers by decreasing the distance they drop as they are discharged by the transfer turret 26 and are accepted within one of the pockets of the sterilize-r 28.

The let-down device 30 (FIGS. 2 and 4) comprises a shaft 180 which is joumaled in the end plates 144 and has three longitudinally extending rows of equally spaced radially extending let-down fingers 182 secured thereto. The let-down device 30 is continuously driven so that each row of longitudinally spaced fingers 182 pass through a series of longitudinally spaced slots 184 in the inner liner 148. The let-down device 30 is confined within a trough 186 (FIG. 2) that is secured in fluidtight engagement to the inner shell 142 and to the end plates 144. Thus, as the sterilizer reel is rotated in a counterclockwise direction (FIG. 2) one row of let-down fingers 182 enters the particular reel pocket, 175 that is about to receive a row of containers from the transfer turret 26, thus greatly reducing the distance the row of containers will drop when entering the pocket thereby minimizing mechanical impact to the containers when they are transferred into the sterilizer.

Although the glass jars are designed to handle considerable impact forces and also substantial thermal shock due to an abrupt change of temperature, there are always a few weak containers which will break while in the apparatus 20. Accordingly, a broken glass eliminator 190 is disposed adjacent the let-down device 30. The broken glass eliminator 190 comprises a screw conveyor 192 mounted on a shaft 193 and disposed below a grill defined by a plurality of spaced bars 194, which grill forms part of the inner liner 148. The space between the bars 194 is wide enough to permit large pieces of glass to pass therethrough, but is not large enough to permit a sound jar to pass therethrough.

The conveyor 192 extends the full length of the cooker and is housed in a trough 196 that is sealed in fluidtight engagement to the inner shell '143 and at its inlet end to one of the end plates 144. The discharge end of the screw conveyor 192 (FIGS. 1 and 4) projects through an opening in the adjacent end plate 144 and into an elbow 198 secured in fluidtight relation to the end plate 144 adjacent the discharge end of the screw conveyor 192. The screw conveyor shaft 193 is continuously driven and is joumaled in one of the end plates 144 and in the elbow 198.

The elbow 198 forms part of an accumulator 200 which includes an upper gate valve 202 (FIG. 1) secured to the elbow 198 and to an accumulator pipe section 204, and a lower gate valve 206 secured to a pipe section 204. During normal operation, the upper valve 204 is open and the lower valve 206 is closed. Accordingly, all broken glass conveyed from below the bars 194 will fall into the accumulator between the two valves. The upper valve 202 is periodically opened and the lower valve closed so as to periodically release broken glass from the accumulator without interference with the normal operation of the cooking and cooling apparatus 20.

After the rows of containers have been moved through the sterilizer 28, they are transferred through an opening 210 in the inner liner 148 and inner shell 143 of the sterilizer 28 into the transfer turret 32 which includes a pocketed reel 212 mounted on a shaft 214. The transfer turret 32 may be identical to the feed valve 22 except, in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the turret 32 need not be a pressure sealing valve but may permit fluid to freely flow therepast.

The rows of sterilized containers (3 are transferred by the turret 32 into the precooler 36 which includes an annular housing 216 that is concentric with but smaller in diameter than the sterilizer housing 140. The housing 216 is constructed in substantially the same manner as the sterilizer housing 140 and has a precooler reel v218 therein which is substantially the same as the preheater reel 62 and sterilizer reel 170. Accordingly, the housing 216 and reel 218 will not be described in detail.

The reel 218 is driven in a clockwise direction (FIG. 2) by drive gears 220 keyed near the ends of a precooler drive shaft 222, and the reel is rotatably supported by pairs of trunnions 224 (only one being shown) mounted on shafts 226 and 228.

The shafts 222, 226 and 228 are'journaled on annular end plates 230 which serve to close the opposite ends of both the precooler 36 and final cooler 42 as a unit. The end plates 230 may be connected to the associated end plates 144 of the sterilizer by any suitable means, such as by annular discs 231 (FIG. 1) which are bolted to the associated plates 144 and which are apertured to permit the several shafts to project therethrough. The shafts 222, 226 and 228, and the gears of trunnions thereon, are disposed within semicylindrical housings 232, 234 and 236, respectively, which are sealed to the end plate 230 and to the outer shell of the annular housing 216.

The rows of containers released from the transfer turret 32 are received in adjacent pockets of the reel 218 and are gently lowered against the inner liner 219 (FIG. 2) of the precooler 36 by the let-down device 34 which is identical to the let-down device 30 (FIG. 4) and, accordingly, will not be described in detail. As the rows of containers are moved through the precooler 36 in a clockwise direction (FIG. 2) they are gradually cooled and are then discharged through an elongated slot 238 (FIG. 5) in the inner liner 219 and inner shell of the housing 216 into the final cooler 42.

The transfer device 38 (FIGS. 2 and 5) is provided in order to gently transfer the rows of .containers between the precooler 36 and final cooler 42. The transfer device 38 comprises a three-pocketed rotor 244 (FIG. 5) that is mounted on a continuously driven shaft 246 journaled in the end plates 230. The shaft 246 is continuously driven in a clockwise direction and advances each row, in turn, downwardly past an elongated ar'cuate guide plate 248 which is an extension of the inner liner 219 of the precooler housing 216 and is concentric with the shaft 246. Thus, complete control is maintained over each row of containers by the rotor 244 and arcuate plate 248 (FIG. 5) until the row is released into associated pockets in the final cooler 42. The let-down device 40 in the final cooler 42 cooperates with the transfer device 48 to gently lower each row fully into its associated pocket. 4

The final cooler 42 is concentric with and is constructed in a manner quite similar to the preheater 24, sterilizer 28, and precooler 36. The final cooler 42 is disposed within the precooler 36 and comprises a housing 252 having an inner shell 254 and an outer shell 256 sealed to the end plates 230. An inner liner 258 and outer liner 260 are fitted in the housing 252. A final cooler reel 262 is similar to the preheater reel 62 and is rotatably mounted within the housing 252 on pairs of trunnions 264 (FIG. 2) near the upper end thereof. The trunnions 264 are keyed to shafts 266 which are journaled in the end plates 230 and are confined within the housing by troughs 268 and 270 secured in fluidtight engagement to the inner shell 254 and end plates 230. The reel 262 is driven in a counterclockwise direction by gears 272 (only one being shown) keyed to a drive shaft 274 that is journaled on the end plates 230. The shaft 274 and gears 272 are confined within a semicylindrical trough 276 that is sealed to the inner shell 254 and to the end plates 230.

After the rows of containers have been moved in a counterclockwise direction through the final cooler 42 at which time they are cooled to a temperature somewhat below the boiling point of water at atmospheric pressure, the rows gravitate one at a time into the pressure discharge valve 44. The pressure discharge valve 44 is identical to the pressure feed valve 22 and includes an elongated pocketed reel 280 keyed to a shaft 282 which is continuously driven in a counterclockwise direction. The reel 280 is rotatable within and sealed to a cylindrical housing 284 supported by the inner shell 254 and has an elongated inlet opening 286 communicating with the housing 252 and an elongated discharge opening 288 which discharges the rows of processed and cooled containers onto the take-away conveyor 46.

A drive system 300 (FIGS. 1, 2 and 6) is provided in order to continuously drive the several rotary components of the apparatus 20 in timed relation and at the rate of about four rows per minute. Although the drive system 300 includes identical parts on both ends of the apparatus, only the drive parts at one end of the apparatus will be described in detail in order to simplify the description thereof, and comparable parts on the other end of the apparatus will be assigned the same numerals.

The drive system 300 (FIGS. 2 and 6) comprises a gear motor 302 which is connected to a longitudinally extending main drive shaft 304 by a chain drive 306 and continuously driven this shaft in a clockwise direction. The shaft 304 is journaled in brackets 307 bolted to the sterilizer housing and extends the full length of the apparatus 20. The preheater drive shaft 84 is driven from the main drive shaft 304 by a chain drive 308, thereby driving the preheater reel 62 in a counterclockwise direction by means of the gears 82. The reel 116 of the pressure feed valve 22 is driven in a clockwise direction by a chain drive 310 which interconnects the shafts 84 and 117. The reel 128 of'the transfer turret 26 is driven in a clockwise direction by a chain drive 312 which connects the shaft 117 of the feed valve 22 to the shaft 130 of the transfer turret 26.

A chain drive 314 interconnects the main drive shaft 304 and the shaft 158 thereby driving the shaft 158 in a clockwise direction and the reel of the sterilizer 28 in a counterclockwise direction. A gear 316 keyed to the shaft 158 meshes with a gear 318 keyed to the shaft 222 thereby driving the precooler gears 220 in a counterclockwise direction and the reel 218 of the precooler 36 in a clockwise direction. The reel 262 of the final cooler 42 is continuously driven in a counterclockwise direction by a chain drive 320 which interconnects the shafts 222 and 274.

The reel 212 of the transfer turret 32 is driven in a counterclockwise direction by a chain drive 322 which is trained around a sprocket keyed to the shaft 130 of the transfer turret 26, around an idler sprocket 326 rotatably supported by a bracket 328 secured to the precooler housing 216, and around a sprocket 330 (FIG. 6) keyed to the shaft 214 of the transfer turret 32. The reel 280 of the discharge valve 44 is driven in a counterclockwise direction, and the let-down device 34 is driven in a clockwise direction by a chain drive 332. The transfer device 38 is driven in a clockwise direction by a chain drive 334 interconnecting the let-down device 34 and the shaft 246 of the transfer device 38.

Power is transmitted from the shaft 282 of the discharge valve 44 to the let-down device 40 by a chain drive 336 thereby driving the let-down device 40 in a counterclockwise direction. The let-down device 40 is connected to the letdown device 30 by a chain drive 338 and drives the device 30 in a counterclockwise direction, while a chain drive 340 connects the let-down device 30 to the screw conveyor shaft 193 and drives the conveyor 192 in a counterclockwise direction Thus, the drive system 300 continuously drives all row handling components of the cooking and cooling apparatus 20 in the proper direction and at a rate of about four rows per minute. Although the let-down devices 30, 34 and 40 have been shown as being driven by chain drives, it is apparent that these devices could be driven directly from the reel of the sterilizer 28, precooler 37, and final cooler 42 if desired.

As mentioned previously, the preferred heat treatment medium is water maintained at the desired temperature and subjected to an overriding air pressure in the preheater 24. It will be appreciated therefore that water will be discharged from the discharge valve 44 (FIG. 2) each time a row of processed containers C is discharged from the apparatus 20 onto the take-away conveyor 46. This water may be collected by a trough 350 and be returned to the precooler 36 of the apparatus 20, alongwith additional make up water, by a pump P as diagrammatically illustrated in FIG. 2.

Air under pressure, for example 30 p.s.i.g. if the sterilizing temperature is 250 F. may be directed into the preheater24 through a valved conduit 352, and make up water may be added to the preheater 24 by a valved conduit 354. Steam is directed into the preheater 24 and into the sterilizer 28 by a conduit system 356 diagrammatically illustrated in FIG. 2 in order to heat the water to the desired temperature. The conduit system 356 preferably includes a plurality of longitudinally extending thermostatically controlled conduits disposed around the periphery of the preheater 24 and sterilizer 28 so that steam may be injected into the associated housings as required.

A second thermostatically controlled conduit system 360, which system includes the pump P and trough 350, directs cool water into the precooler 36 and final cooler 42 at spaced intervals therearound. Excess water is drained from the system by a conduit 362 having a pressure relief valve 364 therein, which relief valve opens when the pressure within the apparatus raises above a predetermined desired level.

Although the specific details of the conduit systems 356 and 360 form no part of the present invention, and the specific temperatures and overriding pressure maintained in the apparatus will vary in accordance with the specific product being handled, it will be noted that the annular design, as opposed to a cylindrical design, of the several processing chambers readily lends itself to maintaining the water in the preheater 24at variable temperature so that the water temperature progressively increases from the upper end thereof to a point immediately adjacent the transfer turret 26. Similarly, the water in the precooler 36 and finalcooler 42 may progressively decrease in temperature from substantially the sterilizing temperature adjacent the transfer turret to a temperature well below the boiling point of water at atmospheric pressure adjacent the discharge valve 44.

If desired, steam may be directed into the transfer valve 26 from a conduit system 366 to abruptly raise the temperature of the jars in the transfer turret 26 thereby subjecting the jars to a thermal shock which will cause all the defective jars in the rows of containers passing therethrough to break prior to reaching the screw conveyor "192 thereby assuring that the screw conveyor will advance all broken containers out of the apparatus 20 rather than permitting the jars to break in some other part of the apparatus downstream of the screw conveyor 192. It will also be understood that a thermal shock may be imparted to the glass jars as the jars enter the sterilizer instead of when the jars are in the transfer turret.

In the operation of the cooking and cooling apparatus 20 of the present invention rows of containers, for example, 100 containers being present in each row, are deflected from the row forming device 114 by the hydraulic deflector 120 into the rotary pressure feed valve 22. The rotary feed valve 22 transfers the rows of containers at the rate of about four rows per minute into the pockets of the reel 62 of the preheater 24. While in the preheater, the rows of containers first move through an atmosphere of air maintained at an overriding pressure of about 30 psi. gauge and then move the containers into water which is maintained in the range of about l400 F. to 1600 F. at the inlet end and gradually increases to a temperature of about 210 F. to 250 F. adjacent the opening leading to the transfer turret 26. I

If it is desired to induce glass breakage of defective containers while the containers move through the turret 26, steam sufficient to raise the temperature of the heating medium within the turret 26 about 5 higher than the sterilizing temperature is introduced into the turret 26 through the conduit 366 thereby imparting a thermal shockto the glass walls of the containers which will cause any defective containers to break while in the pockets of the transfer turret 26.

The rows of containers are then transferred into the pockets 1175 of the reel 170 of the sterilizer 28 with the aid of the letdown device 30, and gradually advances these containers in a counterclockwise direction (FIG. 2). As these containers move over the spaced bars 194, all broken containers including caps and the product therein fall into the trough 196 and are conveyed by the screw conveyor 192 into the accumulator 200 (FIGS. 1 and 4) for subsequent removal from the apparatus 20. a

A temperature of about 250 F. to 275 F. is maintained in the sterilizer thereby completely sterilizing the product by the time the rows of containers have been released into the reel precooler 36. The reel 218 then advances the containers in a' clockwise direction through cooling water in the precooler 36 until the containers engage the transfer device 38, which with the aid of the arcuate guide 248 (FIG. 5) and the let-down device 40, lowers the rows of partially cooled containers into the pockets of the reel 262 of the final cooler 42. The reel 262 then advances the rows of containers in a counterclockwise direction through the coolant until the containers are released into the pockets of the rotary discharge valve 44 which valve discharges the rows of containers one at a time upon the takeaway conveyor290 for removal from. the apparatus 20. The cooling water introduced into the precooler 36 and final cooler 42 through the conduit system 360 is effective to gradually cool the rows of containers from about 250 adjacent the transfer valve 32 to about 104 F. adjacent the discharge valve 44.

A second embodiment of the cooking and cooling apparatus 20a of the present invention is illustrated in FIGS. 7 and 8. Since the parts of the apparatus 200 are quite similar to the apparatus 20, the specific details of the apparatus 20a will not be described and parts of the apparatus 200 which are similar or identical to parts of the apparatus 20 will be assigned the same numeral followed by the letter a.

The apparatus 20a is designed primarily for cylindrical cans, rather than glass jars, however, it will be understood that jars can also be processed by the apparatus 20a. The apparatus 20a receives rows of about 100 containers each from a row forming unit 114a at the rate of about four rows per minute and moves the rows of containers int-o a pressure feed valve 22a which includes a pocketed reel .ll6a that advances the rows into a preheater 24a having hot water therein subjected to an overriding air pressure. The containers are heated to about the sterilizing temperature while in the annular preheating housing 500 and are then advanced by the preheater reel 62a into the reel 128a of a rotary pressure valve 26a, which valve may be identical in construction to the pressure valve 22a. The pressure valve 26a, aided by the let-down device 30a, discharges the rows of containers into the annular housing 140a of the sterilizer 28a which sterilizer includes a reel 1700 that continuously advances the containers therethrough. Steam at a temperature of about 250 F. is directed into the sterilizer 28a through a conduit system 389 is the preferred pockets of the reel 212a through a conduit system 390 to flash cool the container sufficiently to condense the condensible gasses therein. With the steam within the containers condensed, the pressure within the containers is low enough to permit the rows of flash cooled cans to be transferred, with the aid of a let-down device 34a, into a final cooler 42a which is maintained at atmospheric pressure. Cooling water may be directed into the housing 252a of the final cooler from conduits 391 either as a spray or by flooding. lf spray cooling is desired, it will be understood that the housing 252a may be perforated to permit draining of the spray coolant.

The reel 262a of the final cooler moves the rows of containers through the cooling water in the housing 252a until the containers and contents are cooled to about F. and then moves the containers into the reel 280a of the discharge valve 44a. The reel 280a of the discharge valve 44a need not provide a pressure tight seal with the housing, as was the case in the first embodiment of the invention, but may permit fluid to pass freely therethrough. The fully processed rows of containers are then released from the discharge valve 44a onto a 

1. In a rotary cooking and cooling apparatus the combination of means defining a sealed elongated annular pressure housing having an elongated opening therein, a transfer housing sealed about said opening of said annular housing, intermittently driven row forming means in said transfer housing, a rotary pressure feed valve connected to said transfer housing for feeding groups of containers onto said row forming means, said row forming means being arranged to form said groups into cooker length rows of containers prior to moving the cooker length rows into position to be deflected into said annular housing, means for deflecting the cooker length rows into said annular housing, a reel rotatably mounted within said annular housing and including means defining a plurality of equally spaced pockets extending substantially the full length of the apparatus for accommodating cooker length rows of containers therein and for advancing the containers through said annular housing, means for directing a heat treatment medium under superatmospheric pressure into said annular housing, discharge means in pressure communication with said transfer housing, a rotary pressure discharge valve included in said discharge means and in pressure communication with said transfer housing for discharging the processed containers therefrom, and means for driving said reel, said rotary feed valve, said row forming means, said deflecting means, said transfer means and said rotary pressure discharge valve in timed relation.
 2. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said discharge means also comprises an intermittently driven group reforming means in said transfer housing for receiving cooker length rows of containers from said annular housing and for reforming each row into shorter groups of containers, and means for thereafter deflecting each group of reformed containers into said rotary pressure discharge valve.
 3. An apparatus according to claim 1 and additionally comprising a second annular housing having sealed ends and having a second opening communicating with said transfer housing, a second reel rotatably mounted within said second annular housing and having a plurality of equally spaced pockets extending substantially the full length of the apparatus for accommodating cooker length rows of containers therein, said heat treatment medium in said first mentioned annular housing being a sterilizing medium at superatmospheric pressure, means for directing a cooling medium under superatmospheric pressure into said second annular housing, transfer means in said transfer housing for receiving the rows of containers from said first mentioned housing and transferring them into said second reel in said second annular housing, and second drive means connected to said second reel and said transfer means for driving the same in timed relation to said first mentioned drive means.
 4. An apparatus according To claim 3 wherein said transfer means comprises an endless conveyor having a first run disposed adjacent the opening in said first mentioned annular housing and a second run adjacent the opening in said second annular housing, and star wheel transfer means disposed above said second run, said second drive means including means for intermittently driving said transfer conveyor for advancing a row of containers from said first run to said second run while said star wheel transfer means is disposed in guiding relation with the row of containers moving along said second run, said intermittent drive means being effective to transfer the row of containers into said second annular housing while said transfer conveyor is stationary.
 5. An apparatus according to claim 4 wherein said rotary pressure discharge valve includes a cylindrical housing which has an elongated inlet opening sealed to and communicating with said transfer housing, and additionally comprising an intermittently driven group reforming means in said transfer housing for receiving cooker length rows of processed containers from said second annular housing and for reforming each row into shorter groups of containers and for thereafter deflecting each group of containers and for thereafter deflecting each group of containers into said elongated opening of said cylindrical housing.
 6. An apparatus according to claim 5 wherein each row is composed of about 100 containers and wherein said drive means are effective to move the cooker length rows of containers through the apparatus at the rate of about four rows per minute.
 7. A rotary cooking and cooling apparatus comprising a first elongated annular pressure housing, a first driven reel in said first housing having elongated cooker length row accommodating pockets, means for directing a sterilizing medium under superatmospheric pressure into said first annular housing, a second elongated annular housing, a second driven reel in said second housing and having elongated cooker length row accommodating pockets, means for directing a cooling medium under superatmospheric pressure into said second annular housing, a pressure transfer housing connected in pressure communication with said first and second annular housing, a rotary feed valve connected in pressure communication with said transfer housing for directing groups of containers to be processed into said transfer housing while maintaining superatmospheric conditions within said housings, a rotary pressure discharge valve connected in pressure communication with said transfer housing for discharging groups of processed containers from said transfer housing while maintaining superatmospheric conditions within said housing, first transfer means in said transfer housing for forming groups of containers received from said feed valve into cooker length rows and deflecting the rows into the pockets of said first reel, second transfer means in said transfer housing for receiving cooker length rows of containers from said first reel and transferring the rows into the pockets of said second reel, third transfer means in said transfer housing for reforming rows of said containers received from said second reel into groups and for discharging the groups into said discharge valve, and means for driving said reels, said rotary pressure valves and said transfer means in timed relation.
 8. A rotary cooking and cooling apparatus comprising means defining a first elongated annular pressure housing having a first elongated opening in a wall thereof, means defining a second elongated annular pressure housing having a second elongated opening in a wall thereof facing said first elongated opening, a transfer housing connected in fluidtight engagement to said first and said second housings and communicating with said first and second openings, a first driven reel in said first housing having a plurality of pockets for receiving cooker length rows of containers and for advancing the rows of containers through said first annuLar housing, a second driven reel in said second housing having a plurality of pockets therein for receiving rows of containers and for advancing the rows through said second housing, means for directing a sterilizing medium under superatmospheric pressure into said first annular housing, means for directing a cooling medium under superatmospheric pressure into said second annular housing, a driven rotary pressure feed valve for receiving groups of containers and for advancing the groups of containers into said transfer housing while maintaining a superatmospheric pressure therein, first transfer means within said transfer housing for receiving groups of containers from said feed valve for forming said groups into rows and for transferring said rows into the pockets of said first reel, second transfer means in said transfer housing for receiving the rows of containers from said first reel and for transferring the rows of containers into the pockets of said second reel, third transfer means in said transfer housing for receiving the rows of containers from said second reel, for reforming the rows into groups and for moving the groups out of said transfer housing, a driven rotary pressure discharge valve for receiving the groups of containers from said third transfer means and for discharging the groups from said transfer housing while maintaining the superatmospheric pressure therein, and means for driving said reels, said rotary pressure feed valves, and said transfer means in timed relation.
 9. A rotary cooking and cooling apparatus comprising means defining a first elongated annular pressure housing having sealed ends and having an elongated transfer opening in a wall thereof, a first reel rotatably mounted within said first housing and including means defining a plurality of pockets extending substantially the full length of the apparatus for accommodating cooker length rows of containers therein and advancing the rows of containers through said first annular housing, means directing a sterilizing medium under superatmospheric pressure into said first annular housing, means defining a second elongated annular pressure housing having sealed ends and having an elongated transfer opening in a wall thereof, a second reel rotatably mounted within said second annular housing and including means defining a plurality of pockets extending substantially the full length of the apparatus for accommodating cooker length rows of containers therein and for advancing the rows of containers through said second annular housing, means directing a cooling medium under superatmospheric pressure into said second annular housing, means defining a transfer housing secured over said elongated transfer openings and to the walls of said first and second pressure housing in fluidtight relation, a rotary pressure feed valve connected to and communicating with the interior of said transfer housing for feeding groups of containers into said transfer housing while maintaining the superatmospheric pressure within said housings, an intermittently driven row forming conveyor in said transfer housing for receiving the groups of containers from one of said rotary pressure valves and for forming said groups into cooker length rows of containers, means for deflecting said cooker length rows into said first annular housing and into the pockets of said reel, transfer means in said transfer housing for receiving the rows of containers from said first reel after passing through said first mentioned housing and for transferring the rows of containers into the pockets of the second reel in said second annular housing, intermittently driven group reforming means in said transfer housing for receiving cooker length rows of processed containers from said second annular housing and for reforming each row into shorter groups of containers, a rotary pressure discharge valve connected to and communicating with the interior of said transfer housing for receiving the groups of containers from said reforming means and for discharGing the groups of containers from the cooking and cooling apparatus while maintaining the superatmospheric pressure therein, second deflecting means for deflecting the groups of containers from said groups reforming means into said rotary pressure discharge means, and means for driving said reels, said rotary pressure valves, said row forming means, said deflecting means, said transfer means, said reforming means and said second deflecting means in timed relation.
 10. An apparatus according to claim 9 wherein each row is composed of about 100 containers and wherein said drive means are effective to move the cooker length rows of containers through the apparatus at the rate of about four rows per minute. 